Confessions of a Rookie Blogger

78 | Posted In Blogging by David

This is a guest post submitted by a budding blogger and he shares what he has learned so far.

It’s 6:30 a.m., just had my first cup of coffee, black. My mind is racing. It is filled to the brim with flagship content waiting to pour onto my computer screen. I type for seven hours, no break. I feel exhilarated. I produce 15 amazing blog posts. All Flagship content. Has this ever happened to you?

NYPT---im_infant blogger Of course not. It may happen after years of blogging, but I doubt it. Blogging is wonderful, hard work. What a sense of accomplishment when you get one right.

I am a rookie blogger, but I’ve learned from the finest, most generous group of bloggers on the Internet. It’s there for you to absorb, if you take the time to follow, listen and learn. You can blog.

Here’s 5 things I’ve learned from the bloggers I’ve  followed for one year before launching my blog:

Passion.

You better have it for the subject you’re writing about. Your reader will feel it. If it’s not there, she’ll go to one of the other 80 million blogs.  You can’t fake passion. It’s like a bolt of electricity comes through your computer screen. It yells out, I care about adding value to your life. I thought about my post, changed ideas, wrote and re-wrote it before I pressed the “publish” button. It’s the best I can do. I’m still worried it’s not good enough for my readers.

Practice, Practice, Practice.

Did you get behind the wheel of your first car and win the Indy 500? Did you start for UCONN at point guard the first time you played basketball? Probably not. Why do you think you can place your fingers on a keyboard and publish a blog?

The second lesson I learned was to start the process by reading other blogs. Join discussion groups. Get a feel for the ebb and flow of a conversation. Once you start feeling comfortable, begin posting comments on blogs. It takes courage to put your ideas out there. Can’t learn to swim by reading about swimming. Post comments on the famous blogs, and the not so famous blogs. Post ‘em on your bathroom wall until you learn how to write the way you speak. Your high school English teacher will roll her eyes, but it’s how you blog.

Be Nice.

I once asked a defense lawyer who I frequently came up against in court, how he was able to be so nice in the courtroom during a trial. Outside the courtroom, he wasn’t very nice. He shared with me that when he woke up on the morning of a trial, he smiled at his wife the second his eyes opened. He went into the bathroom to shower and shave and smiled in the mirror. He smiled at the gas station attendant filling his car with gas on the way to court. He said good morning to everyone he passed on the way to the courthouse. This guy had to practice being nice. It worked. The jury loved him.

As a rookie, when you think you have the skill to write something funny, be careful. The written word doesn’t come across the way the spoken word does. Instead of being funny, be nice. You earn the right to be irreverent, after you grow a reputation for being nice.

Blog frequently.

One post a week on a new blog isn’t going to do it. Even if you have a cold, blog. Your tired because you stayed up late watching Sunday Night Football, too bad. Write a blog post. Don’t mail it in. Work on it. When you were growing up, which parent corrected your English papers? Make sure your blog post passes the parent test. If Mom would send you back upstairs to re-write your blog post, don’t click the publish button.

Understand the difference between listening to your readers and hearing what they care about.

You can pretend to listen, but you can’t pretend to hear what someone says. Big difference. It’s what your readers care about hearing from you, not what you feel like blogging about on that day. Stick to your message, and the theme of your blog. If your blogging for a group of lawyers, don’t talk about math. We can’t do it, and we don’t care. That’s why accountants and adding machines were invented.

Know your audience and deliver what they want to hear from you.

My next post is about all the mistakes I made. But, I had the courage to try stuff. How about you? What’s the best lesson you learned from your blog mentor?

Lawrence Berezin . I’m an attorney, entrepreneur, and focused on all aspects of marketing. I’m passionate about my wonderful wife and children, law, my new business, blogging, copy writing, web site design, and publishing. I love learning about new stuff.

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  • http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com/ lawrence berezin

    Molly,

    You absolutely made my week. I think our blogs are like our homes. Someone is kind enough to pay a visit, I want to learn about my guest, and treat her as a special person. There are so many people out there with so many wonderful insights and passions to share. I love learning and sharing those passions.

    I’m on twitter. When someone is kind enough to follow me, I always visit their twitter page and website. I think this is what social media is all about. That’s one of the points I tried to make in my post. Be nice. It’s a wonderful way to engage the generous, fascinating people we meet in cyberspace.

    Molly, I would love to visit your website/blog. The interaction between you and Matty is terrific. Please tell me where to click.

    Thanks you!

  • http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com lawrence berezin

    Molly,

    You absolutely made my week. I think our blogs are like our homes. Someone is kind enough to pay a visit, I want to learn about my guest, and treat her as a special person. There are so many people out there with so many wonderful insights and passions to share. I love learning and sharing those passions.

    I’m on twitter. When someone is kind enough to follow me, I always visit their twitter page and website. I think this is what social media is all about. That’s one of the points I tried to make in my post. Be nice. It’s a wonderful way to engage the generous, fascinating people we meet in cyberspace.

    Molly, I would love to visit your website/blog. The interaction between you and Matty is terrific. Please tell me where to click.

    Thanks you!

  • Marlene

    Hi Lawrence,

    I’m one of those people who hasn’t jumped in….yet. Very much appreciated your post, and subsequent comments. You have that delightful ability to laugh at yourself and put people at ease. The comments you elicit show that this draws the best out of people.

    The stand-out comment you made in your post, for me, was “It’s what your readers care about hearing from you, not what you feel like blogging on that day.” Can’t help feeling relationships of all kinds would benefit from remembering that.

    I’m not quite old enough to be your mother, ‘tho I have a few years on you, but since it’s obviously a while since you ran things past her, I thought I’d fill in for her on this occasion. It’s “whom I frequently came up against in court”, and “you’re tired”, “you’re blogging”. Corrections made in the spirit of further improving an excellent product – just like would have been the case with your mother.

    Every good wish,

    Marlene

  • Marlene

    Hi Lawrence,

    I’m one of those people who hasn’t jumped in….yet. Very much appreciated your post, and subsequent comments. You have that delightful ability to laugh at yourself and put people at ease. The comments you elicit show that this draws the best out of people.

    The stand-out comment you made in your post, for me, was “It’s what your readers care about hearing from you, not what you feel like blogging on that day.” Can’t help feeling relationships of all kinds would benefit from remembering that.

    I’m not quite old enough to be your mother, ‘tho I have a few years on you, but since it’s obviously a while since you ran things past her, I thought I’d fill in for her on this occasion. It’s “whom I frequently came up against in court”, and “you’re tired”, “you’re blogging”. Corrections made in the spirit of further improving an excellent product – just like would have been the case with your mother.

    Every good wish,

    Marlene

  • http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com/ lawrence berezin

    Marlene,

    Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful comment. I especially appreciate your help with my “construction”. My Mom says, thanks. Blogging is great, but the joy is participating in a conversation with nice, passionate people.

    I’m not going to let you off the hook…yet. Why haven’t you jumped in? What’s keeping you out of the pool? Your experience will be helpful to us all.

  • http://www.acreageanywhere.com/lots_and_acreage/ Johnny ‘Acreage’ Benoit

    It was an amazing post in the spirit of the words and message. Thanks again – regardless of grammar! But Marlene is diligent!

  • http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com lawrence berezin

    Marlene,

    Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful comment. I especially appreciate your help with my “construction”. My Mom says, thanks. Blogging is great, but the joy is participating in a conversation with nice, passionate people.

    I’m not going to let you off the hook…yet. Why haven’t you jumped in? What’s keeping you out of the pool? Your experience will be helpful to us all.

  • http://www.acreageanywhere.com/lots_and_acreage/ Johnny ‘Acreage’ Benoit

    It was an amazing post in the spirit of the words and message. Thanks again – regardless of grammar! But Marlene is diligent!

  • http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com/ lawrence berezin

    Thank you Johnny. Your comment means a lot to me.

    I remember how nervous I was as a young attorney waiting to be assigned out to trial. Those hours leading up to the trial were killers. Once the trial began, it was exhilarating.

    How do we know when the time is right to start blogging? There is no judge to say, “Counselor call your first witness”. I hope Marlene will share her experience with us.

  • http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com lawrence berezin

    Thank you Johnny. Your comment means a lot to me.

    I remember how nervous I was as a young attorney waiting to be assigned out to trial. Those hours leading up to the trial were killers. Once the trial began, it was exhilarating.

    How do we know when the time is right to start blogging? There is no judge to say, “Counselor call your first witness”. I hope Marlene will share her experience with us.

  • Marlene

    Simply not ready yet – but working on it. I’ll let you know when I’m in the pool.

    Thanks for your interest. You will always have people wanting to converse with you.

  • Marlene

    Simply not ready yet – but working on it. I’ll let you know when I’m in the pool.

    Thanks for your interest. You will always have people wanting to converse with you.

  • http://www.bloggersworkshop.com/ Lee, Blogger’s Workshop

    An excellent, honest post. It’s amazing the challenges bloggers face when starting a new blogging venture. I’m glad to see so many comments on this post – looks like you’ve inpired quite a few people!

  • http://www.bloggersworkshop.com Lee, Blogger’s Workshop

    An excellent, honest post. It’s amazing the challenges bloggers face when starting a new blogging venture. I’m glad to see so many comments on this post – looks like you’ve inpired quite a few people!

  • http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com/ lawrence berezin

    Lee,

    Thanks so much for your kind words. Love the young lady to your left. There were many days when my post fell in the forest and no one was there to say it created any buzz. That’s the life of a rookie blogger, or any blogger.

    I had the most fantastic week with my rookie blogger post. David’s group was just wonderful. I thought I died and went to bloggers heaven. Guess who I met in bloggers heaven. You’d be shocked. That’s for another post.

    I love the way you related Pink Floyd to blogging. Fun and thought provoking. What a great combination.

    I’m looking forward to continuing the conversation. My next rookie blogger post will be about some of my mistakes (it would take 3 posts to cover all of them). I hope allows some young blogger to avoid a couple of mis-steps.

    Thanks, again.

  • http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com lawrence berezin

    Lee,

    Thanks so much for your kind words. Love the young lady to your left. There were many days when my post fell in the forest and no one was there to say it created any buzz. That’s the life of a rookie blogger, or any blogger.

    I had the most fantastic week with my rookie blogger post. David’s group was just wonderful. I thought I died and went to bloggers heaven. Guess who I met in bloggers heaven. You’d be shocked. That’s for another post.

    I love the way you related Pink Floyd to blogging. Fun and thought provoking. What a great combination.

    I’m looking forward to continuing the conversation. My next rookie blogger post will be about some of my mistakes (it would take 3 posts to cover all of them). I hope allows some young blogger to avoid a couple of mis-steps.

    Thanks, again.

  • http://dragnrags.blogspot.com/ Jennifer Moore

    There is so much good stuff here I don’t know where to start!

    Lawrence, great post. As my blog is only a part of my business, there’s not much to it right now. Currently, I use it to post updates about my doings and to promote other artists (of all types.) Every once in a while, I throw in my own insights on being an artist and a Creative in general. I have not found my “flow,” but I definitely have the passion.

    @Sharron: Oh, my goodness. Your comment about procrastination hit me right between the eyes. I needed to read it, because I’m a procrastinator. The idea of success is scary, and I’m trying to bust through that barrier. Thank you! ;)

    So many of you have posted such great thoughts! I have a ton of blogs to visit now. Thanks for the education and isights!

    Jennifer Moore
    JenniferLynn Productions, LLC

  • http://dragnrags.blogspot.com Jennifer Moore

    There is so much good stuff here I don’t know where to start!

    Lawrence, great post. As my blog is only a part of my business, there’s not much to it right now. Currently, I use it to post updates about my doings and to promote other artists (of all types.) Every once in a while, I throw in my own insights on being an artist and a Creative in general. I have not found my “flow,” but I definitely have the passion.

    @Sharron: Oh, my goodness. Your comment about procrastination hit me right between the eyes. I needed to read it, because I’m a procrastinator. The idea of success is scary, and I’m trying to bust through that barrier. Thank you! ;)

    So many of you have posted such great thoughts! I have a ton of blogs to visit now. Thanks for the education and isights!

    Jennifer Moore
    JenniferLynn Productions, LLC

  • http://dragnrags.blogspot.com/ Jennifer Moore

    @Lawrence: Another thing I wanted to say about building posts: My ideas also inevitably come to me when I’m not sitting at my keyboard or when I am just unable to make that post right then. I’m big on writing things out by hand, so I carry a journal just about everywhere with me. Untimely ideas go into it, and I work on them later.

    This applies not just to my blog, but to photos, books, stories, articles, paintings, hand crafted items–anything I will need to “make later” gets written down in my Holy Journal for later reference.

    If you don’t carry one or keep one by your bed, I recommmend it. It’s been very helpful to me.

  • http://dragnrags.blogspot.com Jennifer Moore

    @Lawrence: Another thing I wanted to say about building posts: My ideas also inevitably come to me when I’m not sitting at my keyboard or when I am just unable to make that post right then. I’m big on writing things out by hand, so I carry a journal just about everywhere with me. Untimely ideas go into it, and I work on them later.

    This applies not just to my blog, but to photos, books, stories, articles, paintings, hand crafted items–anything I will need to “make later” gets written down in my Holy Journal for later reference.

    If you don’t carry one or keep one by your bed, I recommmend it. It’s been very helpful to me.

  • http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com/ lawrence berezin

    Jennifer,

    I couldn’t have said it better. Great advice. My only problem is when I wake up at 4 a.m. with a big hairy idea and write it on a piece of paper, it usually makes no sense the next day.

    Has the 4 a.m. demon ever changed your words around after you fall back to sleep?

    Thanks for sharing!

  • http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com lawrence berezin

    Jennifer,

    I couldn’t have said it better. Great advice. My only problem is when I wake up at 4 a.m. with a big hairy idea and write it on a piece of paper, it usually makes no sense the next day.

    Has the 4 a.m. demon ever changed your words around after you fall back to sleep?

    Thanks for sharing!

  • http://dragnrags.blogspot.com/ Jennifer Moore

    Lawrence, if I wake up at 4 in the morning, it usually means I’m not going back to sleep,so I slip into the studio and work on something. I usually have several projects going at once.

    If I wake up enough to write something down and I do go back to sleep, I generally will have woken up enough for whatever it is to make sense.

    My mind is always clicking away. Unfortunately, it tends to move faster than my fingers, so sometimes I don’t even get a chance to write anything coherent down. I find the most potent ideas come back, though.

    Hope that hellps.

    Jennifer Moore
    JenniferLynn Productions, LLC

  • http://dragnrags.blogspot.com Jennifer Moore

    Lawrence, if I wake up at 4 in the morning, it usually means I’m not going back to sleep,so I slip into the studio and work on something. I usually have several projects going at once.

    If I wake up enough to write something down and I do go back to sleep, I generally will have woken up enough for whatever it is to make sense.

    My mind is always clicking away. Unfortunately, it tends to move faster than my fingers, so sometimes I don’t even get a chance to write anything coherent down. I find the most potent ideas come back, though.

    Hope that hellps.

    Jennifer Moore
    JenniferLynn Productions, LLC

  • http://www.acedogsupplies.com.au/ Alex Miller

    Blogging is such a wonderful medium for connecting with others. I love keeping in touch with bloggers, it makes the world of the internet a little less isolated!
    Alex

  • http://www.acedogsupplies.com.au/ Alex Miller

    Blogging is such a wonderful medium for connecting with others. I love keeping in touch with bloggers, it makes the world of the internet a little less isolated!
    Alex

  • Anonymous

    Well said, Alex.

    Are you on Twitter and/or Facebook? If yes, how do you find the interactions?

  • http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com lawrence berezin

    Well said, Alex.

    Are you on Twitter and/or Facebook? If yes, how do you find the interactions?

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